Keywords: India, Pakistan, Kashmir, conflict, article 370 The Kashmir region is one of the most problematic on the world map and a source of tension in relations between India and Pakistan. Clashes and skirmishes regularly occur on the border of the Indian and Pakistani parts of Kashmir, and both sides accuse each other of creating tension and organizing provocations. It seems that it is necessary to understand the origins of the conflict and consider the situation that has developed over the past year both in the internal political life of India and Pakistan, and in Kashmir itself. The problem of determining the status of Jammu and Kashmir (or, as it is called in another way, the "Kashmir problem") dates back to 1947-from the moment of the collapse of a united British India. As you know, during the formation of two independent states-India and Pakistan, the question arose about how their borders would be drawn and which territories of the former British India would become part of the two new subjects of international relations. A BIT OF HISTORY According to the plan of the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, each principality and territory (it should be noted that by 1947 there were more than 562 Indian principalities) had the right to self-determination: either to join India or Pakistan,or to declare their own independence. 1 Eventually, the status of many princedoms and territories was determined, which led to the so - called "great migration": Hindus, once on the territory of Pakistan, rushed to India, Muslims-to Pakistan. At the same time, this process was accompanied by massive human casualties, which, subsequently, will affect not only the relations between India and Pakistan, but also the relations between Muslims and Hindus. Undecided by the time of the declaration of independence of India and Pakistan was the principality of Jammu and Kashmir, where the Hindu Maharaja Gary Singh was in power, and the overwhelming majority of the population was Muslim. ... Read more